White Sox aim to pad division lead in opener with Royals

The Chicago White Sox hope to pad their lead atop the American League Central standings when they invade Kansas City Tuesday to kick off a three-game series with the Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

The White Sox are three games ahead of Detroit for the division lead and recorded a 5-4 win Monday against the Tigers in a make-up game of an earlier rainout. DeWayne Wise had three hits and two runs batted in, while Dayan Viciedo and Gordon Beckham were both credited with an RBI.

"That goes away next series if we don't show up and do what we're capable of," Beckham said about the division lead. "We just have to go out there and keep grinding."

Jose Quintana avoided a decision and gave up four runs in four innings, while Nate Jones threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief for the win and Addison Reed collected his 27th save by getting the final out of the game.

Chicago also will visit the LA Angels and hopes Gavin Floyd can bounce back from a subpar outing when he takes the ball Tuesday. Floyd is 0-1 in his last three starts and was beaten by Detroit in Wednesday's 8-6 loss in which he yielded three runs in 4 2/3 innings.

Floyd is 9-10 with a 4.59 ERA in 25 starts this season and hasn't fared too well in his career against Kansas City, going 4-8 with a 4.21 ERA in 15 games, 14 of which have been starts.

Kansas City has dropped three of four games and lost a three-game series with the Angels over the weekend.

The Royals lost Sunday's rubber match, 4-3, as Will Smith allowed four runs and seven hits in five innings for the loss.

Luke Hochevar draws the start for Kansas City tonight and ended a seven-game winless drought (0-4) with Wednesday's 10-5 win at Minnesota. Hochevar managed to come away with the win and gave up five runs in five innings.

The right-hander has made 12 appearances (11 starts) against the White Sox in his career and is 4-4 with a 4.05 earned run average. In 29 starts this season, Hochevar is 8-13 with a lofty 5.46 ERA.

Kansas City has dominated the White Sox this season by winning 10 of the first 15 matchups between the AL Central inhabitants.